Diverse influences – from athevening to Marc Bolan and the 90s – could be seen at the opening show of London Collections:

The show that opened London Collections: Men - the menswear showcase and first fash-ion week of 2016 - unde-niably set an agenda for

the year ahead. The honour fell on Friday to Topman Design, the catwalk label from the high street store, with its autumn/winter show. The trends on display? Velvet, blouses for men, floral prints and colours inspired by autumn leaves and oxidised metals.

A front row including TV presenter Dermot O’Leary, singer Nick Jonas and actor Douglas Booth watched beanie-wearing models showcase a collection that was flamboyant, glam-orous and ornate. Suits were slouchily cut in panne velvet, delicate devoré blouses had retro floral motifs, and decorative tailoring was worthy of One Direction’s Harry Styles.

A break from the high-pile count came with satin robes worn over wide-legged trousers, frayed knitwear and double denim. But even these looks weren’t simple: jackets and pegged jeans had embroidered panels, with loose threads hanging down for a punk feel. It was a collection that owed a debt to 90s deconstruction by designers such as Marc Jacobs. The luxuriant fabrics and louche feel recalled rock stars from Marc Bolan to Kurt Cobain, and the retro, foppish androgyny seen in the buzzy collec-tions of Alessandro Michele at Gucci.

Such a wide-ranging collection makes sense: Topman has to be many things to many men. Backstage, design director Gordon Richardson gave little of the inspiration away, for fear of the collection becoming pigeonholed. The 90s and the latest fashion buzzword “athevening” - slouchy sportswear to wear out on the town - were mentioned but not quite committed to.

“It was about clothes that move

between what we wear for going out and staying in – simple easy things, but you do something to the fabric,” said Richardson when asked about the influence of athevening.

The year on the collection’s mood-board was 1993, he said, but the emphasis was on “how that mood translates to now”.

Richardson said he oped that this collection was “like a movie. You watch it again and see something else.” With 85% of the clothes on the cat-

walk due to hit Topman stores in the autumn, consumers represent those fresh eyes. The customer is becoming more open to menswear inspired by high fashion, as seen on the Topman Design catwalk. “They are changing, and they now want that from us,” Richardson said.

The general growth of the mens-wear market certainly suggests that men’s interest in fashion is increasing. Global sales of menswear in 2014 reached £298bn, up 4.5% on the pre-

vious year. London Collections: Men, partly set up in response to a bur-geoning menswear market, has been a success.

Now in its eighth season, it has 170 designers on the schedule, including global brands Alexander McQueen, Burberry and Coach.

This year, there is a push to involve the public. Press and buyers from more than 40 countries will be joined by people without a front row ticket, virtually at least. Shows will be streamed on screens at Piccadilly Cir-cus in London and a series of public talks have been scheduled.

Pix: AFP/GettyCourtesy: theguardian.com

MenMenMenMenThe week in outfits

Between red carpets, swanky events, and IRL sightings, here are the best-dressed celebs of the week

Tessa Thompson donned a sequined plaid Marc Jacobs dress from the spring collection this week. Her simple silver accessories complement the gown’s major shine.

Sequined plaid

Statuesque look

Sequin Barbie

Sorbet shades No shocker

Speaking of shine, Brie Larson must be gunning for all the awards she’s nominated for with this statuesque look. A golden vision, she stunned at the Golden Globes Awards in Calvin Klein and Tiffany & Co. jewels. Why: It’s no shocker that Laverne Cox is

included in the roundup this week. Of all the White Dress/Red Carpet looks that flooded the Globes, Cox beats them all in a floating Elizabeth Kennedy gown and jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz

Wearing Monique Lhuillier, Malin Akerman’s rosy look makes us happy. The sorbet shades, long train, and bouncy curls are sweet and spunky, and we love it

We all died over Kate Bosworth’s Malibu sequin Barbie look, but we’d rather steal this noir Dolce & Gabbana outfit

Suki Waterhouse looks like the chicest wedding cake we’ve ever seen, wearing a tiered Huishan Zhang dress, Jennifer Meyer jewelry, and Brian Atwood heels.

Chicest wedding cake

Courtesy: Elle

Best Dressed

40 SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2016Fashion

FlamboyantlyFlamboyantlyFlamboyantlymale Soon to be seen

on Harry Styles? Panne velvet

tailoring at the Topman Design

show

Slouchy 90s-style sportswear made a comeback

The influence of rock stars such as Marc Bolan could be seen in the flamboyant looks

Men